The economic crisis has pushed job security to the top of the list of concerns of U.S. workers who, just months ago, cited the balance of work and family as their highest priority, a study released on Wednesday showed.

Having adequate benefits protection emerged as the second most important concern in the study of U.S.-based workers by global professional services firm Towers Perrin.

The online survey was conducted Dec. 3 to Dec. 11 among 469 workers at mid-sized and large companies. A similar survey was conducted in August.

Amid the barrage of bad news about the economy, job losses and credit woes, workers are shifting their priorities to security and benefits, said Emmett Seaborn, a Towers Perrin official, in a statement accompanying the findings.

"In an economic downturn, employees want to lock down the things they need to provide stability and security for themselves and their families -- a steady salary and basic health care coverage typically top that list," Seaborn said.

Last month, the top concern was job security, at 59 percent, followed by benefits protection and achieving a work-family balance. In August the top three concerns were a work-family balance, at 51 percent, followed by job security and having quality co-workers.

Some 45 percent of workers said they faced a higher risk of job loss in December than they had faced in August, and 55 percent said that the risk of their earnings hitting a plateau or declining had increased.

Workers last month voiced more satisfaction with their pay, up to 56 percent from 50 percent in August, the study said. More employees said in December they fully apply their skill and abilities at work and were personally motivated to help their company succeed.

Working for a successful organization with a strong future emerged among the top five concerns in December, while maximizing earnings fell from August's top-five list.

Employees have grown more concerned with stabilizing their incomes than with maximizing them, Seaborn said.

"They're willing to give in the short term, to get in the longer term," he said. "That's why we actually see less dissatisfaction with pay during periods like this. It's part of an implicit agreement that we'll weather the storm together, and the rewards will come later."

The margin of error was plus or minus 4.5 percentage points, Towers Perrin said.